Police Reform Commission chief Sofar Raj Hossain said that there is no political consideration in the police verification of jobs.
Safar Raj Hossain said, “We have recently come to an understanding on one issue. Police verification is required for government, semi-government or bank jobs. This method of police verification has been in place since 1928. It has been running for almost 96 years. Here are some types of questions and inquiries as per British Law Manual. This often leaves many job seekers out.”
He said, “Secondly, another common issue is whether any of the relatives are involved in politics and whether there is anyone against the state or not.” It was thought of in British terms. Recently there has been a complaint that someone’s relatives are in politics but not in the government party, many of them have not been given jobs because of these arguments. It is seen that their aunt, uncle or someone else is involved in politics. They lost their jobs, even if none of their family members did. We recommend that this practice be scrapped.”
He also said, “From a bank guard to a clerk, everyone’s job is important. Many times one can enter the job by changing the name and identity. Later it may be found that he is involved in some crime. So verification is essential. In any case, I have recommended that police verification should not suffer. So there will be police verification but there will be no political consideration of relatives.”
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Safar Raj Hossain said, “We have discussed with all the members of the Police Reform Commission and the Home Affairs Advisor. We started working from 6th of October. The commission is scheduled to submit its report on December 31 this year. We’re pretty much halfway there. We have done some initial work. It can be called the final form of a draft.”
“Some of the recommendations we are making can be implemented in a short period of time. Besides, there are some issues, which will require a long time to implement. Implementation of some recommendations requires funding. In some cases laws and regulations need to be changed. We recommend these. We are only owners to recommend,” he said.
“You know there are two strict laws,” said the commissioner. According to section 54 police can arrest without warrant. Another is in section 167, where the police remand. In these two cases we are not the owners to decide. Even the Ministry of Home Affairs does not own it. It is CRPC. Ministry of Law Act. Due to these issues, we have also included a joint secretary from the Ministry of Law in the commission of this organization.
“We have checked and seen that the High Court and Supreme Court cases have been going on for a long time on these issues. On behalf of an organization called Blast. Kamal Hussain filed a writ in this regard. In that writ, the High Court said that everyone concerned should be careful in implementing this law,” he added.
Safar Raj Hossain said, ”It gives many guidelines. Later, the government went to the Appellate Division regarding this issue, and there, the Appellate Division said that the instructions of the High Court have already been given in this regard. In other words, the police and other government agencies have to follow certain rules and regulations in law enforcement. One of them is that if someone is arrested, his family members must be informed about it. It is a judgment of the High Court. You know the judgment of the High Court is a part of the law.
About stopping police corruption, he said, ”Corruption is our number one enemy. When corruption in a department decreases, efficiency increases. Increases people’s obedience to law. Corruption is the biggest problem of the country. Besides, we discussed the salary structure of the police. It will be discussed further tomorrow.”
Safar Raj Hossain said, “We should try to keep all departments of the government, including the police, free from politics. We have seen in the past 15 years that many other police departments were affiliated with political parties. Many have committed corruption and tried to get promoted. Recommendations for its closure are in progress.”
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How can greater transparency in police processes enhance public trust in law enforcement?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Sofar Raj Hossain, Chief of the Police Reform Commission
Editor: Good afternoon, Mr. Hossain. Thank you for joining us today. The topic of police reform is crucial and of great interest to our readers. You recently mentioned that there is no political consideration in the police verification process for government jobs. Can you elaborate on what this means for job seekers?
Hossain: Absolutely, and thank you for having me. The police verification process has been part of our employment framework for nearly 96 years, originally established under British Law. Our goal now is to ensure that this process remains neutral and focused solely on the individual’s qualifications and background. It’s essential that personal connections, especially those related to politics, do not play a role in these assessments.
Editor: It certainly sounds like a necessary step. You pointed out that relatives’ political affiliations sometimes affect job prospects. How prevalent is this issue?
Hossain: It’s a significant issue. We’ve received complaints from many job seekers who were denied positions simply because a distant relative was involved in politics but not aligned with the governing party. This practice can unfairly eliminate qualified candidates and creates an environment of skepticism around the hiring process. We’re advocating for the removal of these political considerations from police verification.
Editor: How does police verification contribute to ensuring the security of government positions?
Hossain: Police verification serves as a vital safeguard. Whether for roles from a bank guard to a civil servant, it’s essential to confirm that job applicants do not have backgrounds that could pose risks to public safety. We’ve seen cases where individuals entered positions under false identities. Therefore, maintaining a rigorous verification process is necessary, but it must be free from political biases.
Editor: You mentioned that the commission started its work on October 6 and plans to submit a report by December 31. Can you share what kind of recommendations are you currently considering, and how they will affect implementation timelines?
Hossain: We’re at the halfway point in our process, engaging with various stakeholders to draft our recommendations. Some can be implemented quickly, while others will take longer because of funding requirements or necessary changes in laws and regulations. We’ve prioritized these issues in our discussions, ensuring our proposals are realistic and actionable.
Editor: Speaking of laws, you’ve referenced the strict laws around police authority in arrest and remand. How does your commission plan to address these legal challenges while advocating for reform?
Hossain: This is indeed a complex matter. Sections 54 and 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code provide police with substantial authority, but they also come with limitations. We’ve included a joint secretary from the Ministry of Law in our commission to ensure that our recommendations align with existing legal frameworks. We’re committed to working within the law while pushing for reforms that enhance accountability and transparency in law enforcement practices.
Editor: Public trust in law enforcement appears to be a major concern globally. What measures are you exploring to enhance this trust as part of the proposed reforms?
Hossain: Building public trust is pivotal for the success of our reforms. We aim to advocate for greater transparency in police processes, ensure that law enforcement follows clear guidelines, and foster community engagement. We also believe that implementing our verified recommendations will serve to reinforce citizens’ confidence in their police force.
Editor: Thank you, Mr. Hossain, for shedding light on these critical issues. Your insights into the police reform process are invaluable. We look forward to seeing the outcomes of your commission’s work.
Hossain: Thank you for having me. I’m hopeful that these reforms will lead to a more equitable and efficient process for all citizens.